J A N U A R Y - J U N E 2 0 2 0 | I S S U E N O . 2 SABAH BIODIVERSITY CENTRE The Official Biannual Newsletter HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS SaBC-BRI,UMS Collaboration: Establishing a Culture Collection of Bacteria from Marine & Conservation Sites of Sabah International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2020 "Summer School Programme 2020: International Project-based Learning Intensive Course in Sabah: 29th May 2020: The signing ceremony of Project on Establishing a Multidisciplinary Approaches to Green Culture Collection of Bacteria from Marine and Conservation Sites of Sabah from Compounds with Industrial and Medical Economy" Applications agreement between the Sabah State Government (represented by SaBC) and Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (BRI,UMS). The purpose of this project is to help Sabah to produce an inventory of microbes and DNA genomes COVID-19 CHALLENGE: (of selected strains) from the seas of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and Mataking Islands and the Danum Valley and Maliau Basin Conservation Areas that has potentials in industrial and medical Finding solutions in Tough Time applications. Access and Export Licence Issuance Report The signing ceremonies between UMS and SaBC: Prof Datuk ChM. Dr. Taufiq Yap Yun Hin, UMS Vice Chancellor in the presence of Dr Zarina Amin, Director of BRI,UMS and BIODIVERSITY INSIGHTS: (SaBC) Dr. Ismail S. Charles, Secretary of Natural Resources Office in the presence of Mr. Gerald Jetony, Secretary of SaBC. Diversity At The Edge Communication and SaBC officers and the project members (from left to right): Mdm. Nayang Liyana Bahari, Awareness Activities Mdm. Ken Kartina Khamis, Mr. Gerald Jetony, Prof Datuk ChM. Dr. Taufiq Yap Yun Hin, Vice Chancellor of UMS, Dr. Zarina Amin (Project Leader), Prof Dr. Clemente Michael Wong Vui Ling, Dr. Cahyo Budiman and Mr. Haslan Roslie Copyright © Sabah Biodiversity Centre. All Rights Reserved. 2 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO. 2 Happy International Day for Biological Diversity 2020! The United Nations proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This "The Earth has year's 2020 slogan is "Our Solutions are in Nature". The slogan emphasizes hope, solidarity and the importance of working music for those together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature. As we deal with the pandemic today, let us not forget who listen" that Mother Earth is healing. Take a moment to appreciate the - G E O R G E S A N T A Y A N A - nature happening around us, surely every solution is there SaBC's New Official Website In conjunction with International Day for Biological Diversity 2020 (IDB 2020) on 22nd May 2020, SaBC launched its new official website. For more information, please visit http://sabc.sabah.gov.my/. COVID-19 CHALLENGE: FINDING SOLUTIONS IN TOUGH TIME 8th May 2020 Video Conference with Sarawak Biodiversity Centre In conjunction with IDB 2020, with the theme "Our Solutions are in Nature," a video conference entitled Strengthening Biodiversity Partnership and Collaboration in Times of COVID-19 Challenge was held between SaBC and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC). The video conference was held through Zoom Meeting application and was participated by Mr. Gerald Jetony, Secretary of SaBC. Also in attendance were officers of SaBC. Both parties presented their current activities, projects and possible collaborations which were mainly on biodiversity conservation and research. A video was produced by SBC to commemorate the event (to view the video you can visit SaBC's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSMSTU78k3sOFZxZoSAcDXg (Sabah Biodiversity Centre) Copyright © Sabah Biodiversity Centre. All Rights Reserved. 3 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO. 2 Summer School Programme 2020 "International Project-based Learning In Touch WITH NATURE: Intensive Course in Sabah: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Green Economy" 17th JANUARY 2020 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) The Summer School Programme 2020 "International Project-Based Learning Intensive Course in Sabah: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Green Economy" is a collaboration between Akita International University, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Participants were Mr. Gerald Jetony was given a gift mostly students from the three universities. by Prof. Yoji Natori, as a token of The purpose of the programme was not only appreciation. to study about green economy but also to learn on how to work in international settings. Participants learned to identify interesting issues, conduct field research, and communicate their findings orally and in writing. SaBC was involved in two activities: 1) presentation on Satoyama Initiative in Mr. Gerald Jetony, presented a lecture entitled 'Satoyama Initiative in Sabah Context' to the participants of the Sabah Context and; Summer School Programme 2020: "International Project- 2) field visit to Kg. Kolosunan Inanam - Based Learning Intensive Course in Sabah: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Green Economy" at the Community-Based Conservation Activities. Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy, UMS. 21st JANUARY 2020 KG. KOLOSUNAN, INANAM Activities that were carried out at Kg. Kolosunan, Inanam: Introduction on Kg. Kolosunan, Inanam, Community-Based Conservation Activities Paddy harvesting demonstration Handicraft demonstration Water quality activities (utilizing biological indicators - dragonflies and freshwater fishes) Introduction on Tagal Participants of Summer School Programme 2020 Representatives from SaBC: 1.Mdm. Alessandra Markos 2.Mdm. Nur Zaahrah Karim Copyright © Sabah Biodiversity Centre. All Rights Reserved. 4 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO. 2 VVViiisssiiittt bbbyyy NNNGGGOOOsss aaannnddd IIInnnttteeerrrnnnaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll RRReeessseeeaaarrrccchhh IIInnnssstttiiitttuuutttiiiooonnnsss 28th January 2020 - A visit from JICA 5th February 2020 - Courtesy visit from 19th February 2020 - A visit from Dr. (Japan International Cooperation Mr. Julian Hyde (General Manager) and Takashi Kamada (Shizuoka Institute of Agency) Dr. Motohiro Hasegawa, Mdm. Nadhirah Rifai (Programme Science and Technology), Mr. Takahiro JICA Senior on Biodiversity and Manager) from Reef Check Malaysia. Goto (President of Sakamoto Bio Co. Ecosystems and Mr. Yasuo Ltd) and Mr. Julius Kulip (ITBC, UMS) to Takahashi, Vice-Minister for Global discuss on the potential of Environment Affairs, Ministry of Manufacturing Herbal Products. Environment. IIImmmpppooorrrtttaaannnttt MMMeeeeeetttiiinnngggsss Online Access and Export Committee (JKAE) Meeting 19th May 2020 For the first time, the Access and Export Licence Evaluation Committee Meeting was held online by using Google Meet meeting application. The meeting was held during which the Malaysia Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Gerald Jetony, Secretary of SaBC. 9th June 2020 Introduction Meeting with Pongo Alliance An introduction meeting was held between SaBC and PONGO Alliance. The objective of the meeting was to introduce PONGO Alliance activities to SaBC. Copyright © Sabah Biodiversity Centre. All Rights Reserved. 5 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO. 2 INFOGRAPHIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON LIVING ORGANISMS REPORT ON ACCESS AND EXPORT LICENCE APPLICATIONS JAN-JUNE 2020 LOCATIONS OF RESEARCH TOTAL NO. OF PAPERS RECEIVED 1.A taxonomic study on the Bornean and Philippines Sword-tailed Crickets in the genus Rhycnogryllus Chopard, 1925 (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae, Trigonidiinae). 2.Betta nuluhon, a new species of fighting fish from western Sabah, Malaysia (Teleostei: Osphronemidae). 3.Mitogenomes Reveal Multiple Colonization of 4 Mountains by Rattus in Sundaland. 4.New Species of Termitomyces(Lyophyllaceae, Basidiomycota) from Sabah (Northern Borneo), Malaysia. LICENCE APPLICATIONS BY NATIONALITY (JAN-JUNE 2020) Fee and Submission: Since June 2019, the Access and Transfer INTERNATIONAL MY INTERNATIONAL Licence fee is imposed to all researchers. MY Since October 2019, all Access Licence and Transfer Licence applications must be submitted via SaBC's online application portal 59% 41% 41% 59% at https://sabcapps.sabah.gov.my/ . ACCESS EXPORT Copyright © Sabah Biodiversity Centre. All Rights Reserved. 6 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER ISSUE 2/2020 BIODIVERSITY INSIGHTS: Diversity at The Edge By, Liesbeth Frias & Sergio Guerrero, Health at the Edge Project Coordinators, Danau Girang Field Centre The Health at the Edge Project (H@EP) is an initiative created by Liesbeth and Sergio. The project aims to understand the potential of infectious disease transmission between domestic and wild species in human–modified landscapes such as in Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia (Access Licence: JKM/MBS.1000-2/2 JLD.10 (57) & JKM/MBS.1000-2/2 JLD.10 (59)) While Borneo is one of the world's biodiversity hot spots, it is also one of the largest producers of palm oil, which has created a heated debate regarding the trade-off's between social development and ecosystem conservation, both topical for our Endangered Bornean elephant Introduced species to the ecosystem (domestic dogs) society. By surrounding and encroaching natural forests, oil palm plantations have become part of the ecosystems in Sabah. Thus the natural environment and biodiversity are at risk. Domestic species brought by humans, such as cats and dogs, are threat to wildlife. These introduced species become competitors, predators and prey for wildlife species, while also alter natural pathogen transmission